He does Tomiki Aikido. They are the only people I'm aware of who conistently train, and compete, empty hand vs. knife in an alive fashion. I would say that lumping them in with hippies who are too deadly, or too friendly, to spar makes you the dumbass. But I won't because only morons use the word dumbass as if it meant something.

Kata helps coordination and concentration. But should be thought of like doing push ups. Push ups make your uper body stronger which in turn can give your punches more power. But you're not going to win any street fight by droping to the ground and doing 20. Same thing with Kata, it has it's place as an excercise no more no less.

Someone said something about the street. I would never say this in aikiweb but my teacher always talks about you do so and so in the parking lot but not in the dojo.
My teacher teaches me when we do the paired kata together.

Please move out of my state as you're dragging Texas' collective IQ downwards with your posts.

Failing that, get your ass to a throwdown. Austin is overdue for a TD. Perhaps you could come?